IPL 5: Tainted Mohnish admits and apologises

New Delhi, May 16: Indian Premier League has been clouded with spot-fixing claims, and one of the cricketers Mohnish Mishra, among the five suspended has admitted to have said that 'franchises pay black money' in a sting operation conducted by a television channel on Tuesday.

The 28 year old cricketer has admitted that the statements that were made by him during the course of the discussion was for personal gain and also revealed that he has not received any cash from Sahara.

"I wish to clarify that the said statements were made by me casually during the course of the discussion, for personal gain. I have not received any amount in cash from Sahara," he wrote.

Mishra's statements were caught on tape as one statement of his has created a flutter, 'franchises pay black money to us players. Pune gave me Rs. 1.5 crore, out of which Rs. 1.2 crore was black money.'

Mishra playing for Pune Warriors in IPL 5, has further stressed on clarifying the correct position and has apologised for the embarrassment caused to his franchise Sahara due to such volatile and incorrect statements.

"I sincerely apologise for the embarrassment caused to Sahara due to such frivolous and incorrect statements. I assure you that I will make such statements as may be necessary to clarify the correct position."

"We strongly condemn his irresponsible conduct and are suspending him with immediate effect till further investigation happens. He will not take any further part in the IPL," said Subrata Roy, the owner of Pune Warriors in a statement issued to BCCI.

Roy further added saying that 'Sahara has never paid any amount in cash or otherwise to Mohnish Mishra or any other player, over and above the maximum amount permissible by BCCI for any such player and neither do we believe in this practise of giving black money.'

BCCI has suspended five players including Mohnish Mishra, from all forms of the game for their alleged involvement in spot-fixing.